Man dies in Mystic after being struck by Amtrak train

Emergency responders from the Groton Town Police, Mystic Fire Department and Amtrak gather at the scene Monday, May 5, 2014 where a northbound Amtrak train struck a pedestrian on the tracks between the School St. crossing and the Mystic River railroad bridge.

Published May 05. 2014 10:11AM | Updated May 06. 2014 12:42AM

Izaskun E. Larrañeta

Mystic — An unidentified 55-year-old man died Monday morning after he was struck by an Amtrak train and thrown into the Mystic River in the area of the School Street crossing in West Mystic.

The incident occurred about 9 a.m. Groton Town, Stonington and Amtrak police responded with crews from the Mystic Fire Department and Mystic River Ambulance for report of a pedestrian struck by a train.

The man was retrieved from the water and transported to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Groton Town Police Lt. John Varone said preliminary investigation revealed the man was walking northbound along railroad tracks about two-tenths of a mile north of the School Street crossing when he was struck by a northbound train.

Kimberly Woods, spokeswoman for Amtrak, said the Amtrak 2190 Acela Express was traveling from New York to Boston. There were 207 passengers on board. Woods said a relief crew relieved workers who were operating the train.

The train started to move again at 11:25 a.m.

She said passengers could expect residual delays as a result of the 2190 Acela Express accident.

Varone said the incident is under investigation and the name of the victim was being withheld pending the notification of next of kin.

The victim is from out of state, he said.

g.smith@theday.com

i.larrañeta@thday.com

An Amtrak conductor returns to his train as Emergency responders from the Groton Town Police, Mystic Fire Department and Amtrak gather at the scene Monday, May 5, 2014 where a northbound Amtrak train struck a pedestrian on the tracks between the School St. crossing and the Mystic River railroad bridge.

Emergency responders from the Groton Town Police, Mystic Fire Department and Amtrak gather at the scene Monday, May 5, 2014 where a northbound Amtrak train struck a pedestrian on the tracks between the School St. crossing and the Mystic River railroad bridge.